I am not a battery / electronics person.
I had no issues over the winter with my (I assume) 4D batteries, but once I launched this season I came back a week later (lots of rain in the NE) and Battery #2 was in the red.
I ran the engine for 30 min and then left (more rain), and the next weekend Battery #2 was in the red. I ran the engine for over an hour, and while it looked initially like it was charged up, the needle dropped and dropped until it was back in the red. So I have 2 questions. First, I have never put water in these because they clearly say not to open.
First, should I have been ignoring this warning and instead opening and putting water in them??
Second, is 17 years essentially end-of-life for these? I assume they are the original batteries.
Third, I don't know that I am up for a major battery replacement at this point. I think I'd rather just drop another 4D in there, and I think I've seen recommendations as to brands in the forum. Is there any reason why not to just drop in a replacement that outweighs a full battery replacement?
If these questions have already been answered, just tell me to RTFM (or forum) and I'll look for the answers. But I did a quick search and found one thread that sort of addressed #3 and maybe #2, but not #1.
Again, I am not a battery or electronics person.
I had no issues over the winter with my (I assume) 4D batteries, but once I launched this season I came back a week later (lots of rain in the NE) and Battery #2 was in the red.
I ran the engine for 30 min and then left (more rain), and the next weekend Battery #2 was in the red. I ran the engine for over an hour, and while it looked initially like it was charged up, the needle dropped and dropped until it was back in the red. So I have 2 questions. First, I have never put water in these because they clearly say not to open.
First, should I have been ignoring this warning and instead opening and putting water in them??
Second, is 17 years essentially end-of-life for these? I assume they are the original batteries.
Third, I don't know that I am up for a major battery replacement at this point. I think I'd rather just drop another 4D in there, and I think I've seen recommendations as to brands in the forum. Is there any reason why not to just drop in a replacement that outweighs a full battery replacement?
If these questions have already been answered, just tell me to RTFM (or forum) and I'll look for the answers. But I did a quick search and found one thread that sort of addressed #3 and maybe #2, but not #1.
Again, I am not a battery or electronics person.